Your Baby at Week 26

At a Glance

Your LO is getting ready to woo you with her eyelashes growing in. Soon she will be batting those babies at you!

Ouch!

Teeny tiny fingernails have arrived! Be warned: They can be jagged and sharp by the time you lay your eyes on them.

Swallowing Practice

Your baby-to-be continues to work hard swallowing amniotic fluid this week. This act is instrumental to healthy lung development.

What's up with your baby? He now weighs a full two pounds and measures 14-plus inches long. Your baby will soon be feeling a little cramped in your uterus — but not to worry, there's still plenty of space for him to grow. It just means your tiny gymnast will have less room for those somersaults, cartwheels and other Olympic feats.

Baby’s Eyes Open

Look who's looking! It's your baby! His eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are beginning to open at 26 weeks pregnant. That means your baby is able to see what's going on now, though unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting. But do try this at home for kicks: Shine a flashlight at your stomach. Your little peanut might kick in response (as in: "Get that light out of my eyes!"). Right now, the iris, which is the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your little one's eye color. And even the color your baby is born with might not be the permanent shade. You may be kept guessing until he's a year old, with the most dramatic changes occurring between six and nine months.

Brain-Wave Activity Kicks In

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is gearing up at this stage in fetal development, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or movement.

At two pounds and nine inches long, your little nestling is having an eye-opening week. Until now, his fetal eyes were under wraps, quietly developing beneath fused eyelids. But now it’s time for the big reveal as his eensy optic orbs open … and blink. Of course, these newbie peepers are just learning to focus… plus, there’s not much to see in the murk of his cozy confines. Still, it’s a big milestone…and important practice for the moment when your little one’s eyes and yours lock for the first time.

Wondering if you’ll be looking into baby blues…or greens…or browns? Right now the irises are still pretty pale. Pigmentation comes in over the next few months — and even at birth, eye color is often in transition. It may not be clear if you've got a green-, blue- or brown-eyed honey until he’s at least six months old.

Your baby’s first blinks of an eye may be adorable, but they’re also a very important developmental step. Blinking is a skill that’s essential in the outside world because it lubricates the eyes and protects them from foreign objects — including your little one’s own wayward fingers.

Looking a little lower on that adorable face, nerves around that bow-shaped mouth and lips are getting a lot more sensitive now, prepping baby for the all-important task of honing in on mom’s nipple once he’s born. Already, he’ll try to mouth whatever comes near those lips…including the umbilical cord.

And high inside that mouth — higher up in the gums than those baby teeth buds that developed earlier — are the first inklings of permanent teeth. Right now they’re just tiny buds, and they've got a lot of hibernating to do before they’re ready to poke out, but in six or so years they’ll grow into pearly whites that’ll last your little one his whole life.

In other development news, your maturing baby is better coordinated now — especially when it comes to his hands. He can easily make a fist, suck his thumb, clasp his hands together, and even play with his toes. Can’t wait until you’ll be able to play with his tiny digits yourself? Why not start some baby games now with some poking play? Try returning his pokes with your own gentle prodding through your belly. You’ll both get a kick out of that.

Your Body at Week 26

Protruding Navel

At 26 weeks pregnant, you're two-thirds of the way through your pregnancy and your uterus is about two-and-a-half inches above your belly button. And speaking of your navel, have you noticed that it's taken on a life of its own — a larger-than-life life? A newly outie belly button may not be your idea of forward fashion (especially when you have a navel piercing or when your once innie belly button now bulges through tight clothes), but it's de rigueur for the pregnant set. And it's easy to understand why.

Beginning somewhere around the middle to end of your second trimester, your enlarging uterus swells enough to push your abdomen forward, making your navel pop out like a timer on a well-done turkey (even though you have a way to go before your baby is "well done"). Your belly button should revert back to its regular position a few months after delivery — though it may have that stretched-out, "lived in" look. Until then, you can look at the bright side: It gives you a chance to clean out all the lint that's accumulated there since you were a kid.

Insomnia

If a full night's rest has become elusive, welcome to the (sleepless) world of pregnancy insomnia. Between heartburn and leg cramps, bathroom runs and that big beach ball (with its protruding navel!) beneath your nightie, it's no wonder your body's having trouble calming down and drifting off. But there are lots of tactics to try that should help keep you in bed (and asleep!) instead of pacing the floor, including daytime exercise, a daily dose of fresh air and limiting fluids before you hit the hay.

Baby's Movements in the Womb

Feel like you're carrying the Karate Kid with all the kicking going on? Your baby is actually practicing all kinds of movements that will eventually be used in life on the outside — including pedaling against your belly, a sort of pre-walking skill. As your baby's nervous system becomes more developed, fetal movements will become much more coordinated. And as she gets bigger and stronger, those movements will become much more powerful...and occasionally, even painful to you. If your baby lands a good one, that tiny left hook might hurt — a lot. Another trick she may try — stretching that leg out so far that the foot becomes lodged between your ribs (ouch). Next time you come under attack, try changing positions or doing some stretches of your own. You can also gently push your baby back with your hand when your knee-jerker jerks a little too hard. You just might be able to send your little slugger back into the corner of the ring!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 26

Your expanding uterus continues to put more and more pressure on your stomach and intestines, resulting in the bloating you probably feel. Minimize the problem by eating several small meals a day instead of three large ones so that you don’t overload your digestive system. Read More

Some women who have a history of migraines have them more often when they’re pregnant (some lucky ducks experience fewer of them), so don’t be surprised if yours flare up more these days. Since strong migraine medications are probably off-limits for you now, consider holistic therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, meditation and yoga (these techniques can also help reduce stress, which is a migraine trigger). Read More

Has "pregnancy brain" caused you to forget some crucial meetings or bits of information lately? While this decrease in memory is temporary and totally normal, try writing key things down in a trusty notepad or on your smartphone to help you stay organized for the rest of your pregnancy. Read More

Your loosened joints, shifted center of gravity and added weight are just a few of the factors that cause you to slip, trip and fall more often than usual. This clumsiness is temporary, but for now, be extra careful in the tub, shower and on other slippery surfaces. Read More

If the "growing pains" caused by your expanding uterus (technically called round ligament pain) are feeling particularly achy lately, get off your feet when you can and get as comfortable as possible. Also, remember to shift positions slowly so as not to aggravate the pain. Read More

If your eyes are feeling irritated, that’s probably because pregnancy hormones decrease tear production, which leads to dry eyes. Use eye drops to ease the discomfort and be sure to tell your practitioner if you develop serious vision problems since this could be a sign of preeclampsia. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Putting the nursery together is super exciting, but remember: safety first. Avoid buying a now-discontinued drop-side crib, as they pose a danger to your newborn.

A healthy mom-to-be has likely put on between 16 and 22 pounds by now. If you fall out of that range, talk to your doc about weight gain during pregnancy.

Haven’t started your baby registry yet? Get to it! Consult seasoned moms in your life before adding products willy-nilly. They can steer you clear of unnecessary items.

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From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.